John Corbin & Mr. Robert Pritchard

The Cartersville American

Cartersville, Georgia

February 9, 1886, page 3

Transcribed by:

Death On The Rail.
Two Men Lose Their Lives on the W. & A. Railroad Friday Night.

On last Friday night, when a section of No. 7, in charge of Conductor Stallings, reached this point and stopped to leave some cars, it was found that one of train hands, Mr. Robert Pritchard, was missing. An accident was feared at once, and the train was side-tracked, when the men went back on the engine to search for the missing man. His lantern had been seen by the conductor while crossing the Etowah bridge, and they went back that far without making any discovery. They then returned, and, looking more carefully, found the mangled remains of their comrade on the roadside, just out of Cartersville. It was soon discovered that life was extinct. The remains were taken to Hicks & Brevard’s undertaking establishment, where they were prepared for burial, and afterwards conveyed to his home at Resaca, for interment.

On the same night, when a section of No. 7 reached the station at Tunnel Hill it was found that Mr. John Corbin, a train hand, was missing. A search resulted in finding his dead body near the mouth of the tunnel. He had started from the conductor’s car to the engine, and it was supposed that he was knocked off as the train entered the tunnel. His remains were carried to Acworth for burial on Saturday evening.